Electric switch



Nov. 23, 1926;

o. KUPFERMAN ELECTRI C SWITCH -Filed oct. 23, 1925 I. LNV

1 vENToR um am .y Pasaia 23, 1926.

oscaa xUPrEaMaN, or BROOKLYN, NEW You.

ELECTRIC swrrcrr.-

Application filed October 23, 1925. Serial No. 64,895.

I This invention relates to electric switches,

particularly those known in the ,trade as canopy switches, and has for its object 'to provide'a switch for the control of clrcuits 6 through a plurality ofvunits of an electric system, such as lamps, whereby, through a continuous rotary motion in the same dlrection, the circuits through the 'different units will be consecutively closed or opened..

I accomplish this object by providing a. ratchet wheel shaped commutator in which all teeth but one are Aconductive and which cooperates'with as many Contact members as there are conductive teeth, one of. the l`contact members being 'adapted to be connected to one pole of each unit and the other contact members with the other `pole of the respective units. l

When my switch is applied to a lamp fixture having, for instance, two incandescent lamps, it is possible by a 'continuous ro tation of the commutator thereof, in the same direct-ion to simultaneously light one lamp and extinguish the other or vice versa or ysimultaneously light or extinguish both lamps.

Another object of my invention is to simplify the construction of vthe switch and of its individual.parts, so as to reduce the cost of manufacture thereof to a minimum.

" With these Vobjects in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of arts as will be hereinafter more fully described and defined in the appended claims.

In the. accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters denote corresponding'parts, Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view, of the switch; Fig. 2 a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 a cross-section through the operating spindle with the frontplate or cover removed showing the commutator and the contact pieces in operative position, and Fig. 5 a rear view of the.'

commutator. y

As one embodiment of my inventioinifl shall describe a switch to be used for 'the control. of two electric lamps, butit is to be understood that my'switch maybe made toV control more than two lamps and Athat itis applicable for the control of other elec-4 tric units thanl lamps.

.10 denotes asubstantially rectangular casing preferably composed of two plates' 10,

1()b of bakelite orV other insulating material adapted'to be .permanently secured to one another in the manner hereinafter described. The plate 10a is formed on its inner face with a' central cavity 10 from three corners of which lead horizontal lateral grooves 11 into smaller cross cavities 12, which with their outer ends-terminate' at the longitudi` nal edges of the platelO and are open. Fitted in these latter cavities, -are the U- shaped ends 13 of. the resilient metal members 13, which extend through the grooves 11 into said centrall cavity 10c and inthe, latter are curved so as to tightly engage around threeratchet teeth of a commutator wheel 14. This wheel is made of insulating material, preferablybre, and accord- A ing to the present example is .formed with four ratchet teeth, the circumferential surfaces 14 of which arecurved eccentricallyrelative to the axis of the wheel.. This wheel is adapted to loosely bear with its fiat back on the bottom of the cavity 10c and is provided in its front face with a central square cavity 14d to form a socket for a' square spindle 15, whichl serves for the manipulation of the commutator. The conducting element of thecommutator is formed of a substantially circular plate 16 provided with three radialjextensions or "arms 16?? projecting from the periphery thereof, each arm being at itsA free end somewhat broadened, as at 16", and s0 21d-measured and curved as to snugly fit around the curved surfaces of three of the ratchet teeth 14 of the commutator, while the fourth tooth letb remains uncovered andv is, therefore, non-conductive.

The second plate 10b serves as a cover and is centrally perforated, as at` 10", to form a passage for the spindle 15. This cover is adapted to be permanently secured in position over the plate #10 by a clampingmember 17 vconsisting of a metal plate formed with marginal extensions 17tl adapted tojbe bent around the rear plateand to l be compressed into grooves 10 of the latter.

sleeve 18 fixed to s'aid clamping plate 17..

'The spindle 15 in its major' partis of square cross-section and is adapted to fit with its inner end in the square cavity 14d of the commutator 14 and to be centered and held in position therein by said sleeve. The front or outer end 15n of said spindle 15 is of .cylindrical shape somewhat reduced in diameter and adapted to project outwardly through an opening 188L of the sleeve 18 to receive a knob 19 fixed thereon.

The switch is adapted to be fastened to a bracket of a lamp. fixture or the like, which, according to the present example, is accomplished by means of two clamping nuts 20, 20 working on the sleeve 18.

The electric wires 21 for the electric system are conductively connected to the contact members 13 by soldering their ends and the U-shaped ends 13a of the latter in the cavities 12 or in any other suitablemanner.

The operation of the switch is as follows:

During the rotation of the spindley 15' by its knob 19 continuously in a certain direction, the resilient members 13 will slide over the surfaces 14C' of the commutator. then the commutator is given a turn to the extent of one tooth and one of the contact members comes into contact with the nonconductive tooth 14", there will be a break g ing composed of two superposed plates of i of the circuit through one of the units leaving the circuit through the other unit intact or closing it, if it had been previously opened and vice versa. When on a further turn to the same extent the non-conductive tooth is replaced by a conductive tooth, the circuit through the unit mentioned will be again closed and that of the other unit opened. On aiurther similar turn in the saine direction, the circuits through both units may be opened, and finally on a further turn, the circuits through both units may be closed or vice versa. 1

It will be noted that by providing the commutator Wheel with a cavity instead of an opening passing through the rear of the wheel, the spindle will be entirely insulated from the conducting sheath or plate 16. Thereby the construction becomes greatly simplified, in so far as additional or separate insulating means that otherwise would be required in order to prevent short circuits through accidental ncontact between the rear end of the spindle and the sheath will be dispensed with. Furthermore inasmuch as 'the position of the spindlein the cavity 14 is fixed, no special stops, such as collars or the like on the spindle, are necessary and. therefore, by making the spindle entirely of square cross-section at least one or two steps in the manufacture thereof are eliminated. c What I claim is Y 1. As an article of manufacture, a rotary switch comprising a comparatively flat casinsulating material bearing on one another,

Ethe rear or ilower plate being grooved centrally and laterally and the front or up er plate being centrally perforated, a rate et shaped commutator wheel loosely bearing on the bottom of the central groove of the rear plate, a sheath of conductivematerial covering the bearing surface of said wheel and all teeth thereof but one, resilient contact members cooperating with said teeth, 1

the number of said contact members corresponding to that of the sheathed teeth of said wheel, said contact membersprojecting into and being fixed in the lateral grooves of said rear plate and conductively connected Vtherein to the wires of the electric system, a

centrally perforated member extending over the front plate and having its end portions bent around the sides andthe back of the lrear plate to clamp said two plates together,

plate being centrally perforated, a ratchet wheel shaped commutator loosely bearing on the bottom of the central groove of said rear plate, said' commutator having a central square groove, a sheath of Aconductive material covering the bearing surface of said wheel and all teeth thereof but one, resilient contact members cooperating with said teeth, the number of said contact members corresponding to that of the sheathed teeth of said wheel, said conta-ct members projecting into and being fixed in the lateral grooves of said rear plate and conductively connected therein to the wires of the electric system, a centrally perforated member extending over the front plate and having its end portions bent around the sides and the` back of the rear plate to clamp said two plates together, an externally threaded sleeve projecting centrally from said clampin member, a .spindle relatively borne in said sleeve and being of square cross section to' it in said square groove of said commutator and means on said sleeve Afor clamping said switch to a stationary object.

3. As an article of manufacture, an electric canopy switch comprising a casing com- ,posed of two comparatively flat superposed plates of insulating material, the rearfplate eing grooved centrally and laterally'and the front plate being centrally perforated,. a.

commutator loosely bearing in the central l groove of said rear plate, contact members cooperating with said commutator and xed in the lateral grooves of said rear plate and connected therein to the electric system, a centrally perforated member extending'over the front plate and having its end portions bent over the sides and back and thereby clamping said two plates together, a sleeve projecting centrally from 'said clamping commutator and means 'on said sleeve fory elamping said switch to a stationary ob- ]eet. v

In testlmony whereof I aix my signature.

OSCAR KUPFERMAN. 

